KEY POINTS:
Local Auckland schools came out on top in the national curling championships last weekend at Paradice Avondale.
Watched by national junior selectors Peter Becker and Merv Jamieson (who were in Auckland with the Maniototo boys), Long Bay College (mixed), Baradene College (girls) and Birkenhead College (boys) emerged victorious.
In superb conditions on ice groomed through the night, the Birkenhead team of Min Woo Yim, Jonny Yoon and Yuki Mori beat Henderson (Brittany Taylor, Cory Mills, Tony Hill and Kyle Calder) 11-1 in the boys' final with Massey Ramrod beating KBHS Red 6-0 for third. Earlier, Birkenhead had to come back from 1-5 after three ends against Massey Frosties to win 9-6 and book their place in the final.
It was always close in the girls with the Baradene combo of Lee-ande Hill, Florence Ng and Katherine Yip prevailing over the AGGS team of Ophir Karan, Elizabeth Henty, Samantha Koo and Natalie Sargon on a countback after the teams had been tied on four points after section play.
The 8-5 win by Baradene over Auckland Girls Grammar in their head-to-head clash was the decider.
The intensity of competition in all grades underlined the popularity of the sport and again emphasised the need for a purpose-built facility which the sport hopes to be building in mid-2008.
The fair play awards went to Kieran Ford, Natalie Sargon, Keswick Pearson and Jordan Reid-Ward. Min Woo Yin, Taylor, Reagan Lupi and Emily Whelan were named players of the tournament.
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BASKETBALL
Rangitoto College fared best of auckland schools in the national secondary schools championships with their girls winning through to the final and pressing eventual winners Church College of New Zealand through the early stages.
Always ahead, 22-17 at quarter time and 35-42 at halftime, Church College pulled away to win 79-55. Kate Lacey (12pts) and Candice Marsh (11) were the top-scorers for Rangitoto.
In the boys' championship, Kelston Boys High fared best among the Auckland schools, beating Palmerston North Boys High 92-80 in the play-off for third.
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CRICKET
There will be some anxious looks skywards on Saturday morning as senior 1A players prepare for the continuation of their two-day championship.
After a series of one-day games and the first two rounds of the two-day championship in term one, the title will be decided in the remaining three rounds with Kelston Boys High (8pts) holding a one point lead over Auckland Grammar. They are followed by Westlake Boys High (6), Rangitoto (5), Takapuna Grammar (4) and Avondale (0). Senior A1 play starts at 11am with 1B matches at 12.30pm.
The girls continue their competition with Epsom Girls Grammar meeting Baradene this afternoon at Melville Park to find the winner of their major (20-over) competition which started in term one.
In other action today, the premier and senior B grades begin, followed tomorrow by the intermediate grade. All matches start at 4pm.
North Harbour senior premier boys and senior A start on Saturday and continue until November 10.
The girls, in what will be a tight battle with four schools tied at the top of the table, start next Wednesday, followed on October 27 by the premier colts, juniors and B grades.
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NETBALL
For Mt Albert Grammar victory on the big stage was yet again one step too far.
After sweeping the major Auckland winter sporting titles with victories in netball, rugby and soccer, the school has come up short in their respective national championships.
The MAGS rugby team lost to Gisborne BHS, the soccer team went down to old rivals Auckland Grammar and, last week, the netballers went out in the semifinals of the top-12 national secondary schools championships in Napier.
But not without a fight.
In a tense battle, MAGS lost 29-28 to Villa Maria College in one semifinal while 2001 champions Verdon College (coached by the legendary Robyn Broughton) beat TCS-Tu Toa 33-28 in the other.
Verdon went on to beat Villa Maria 25-24 in the final to take the title won by Massey HS for the past two years. The play-off for third was just as close, with TCS-Tu Toa beating MAGS 35-34 in another one-point thriller.
AGGS, winners in 2004 (their fourth title since their first in 1995), beat Marlborough College 37-20 in the play-off for seventh while Rangitoto College had a 10-point win over Palmerston North Girls High to claim fifth.
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ROWING
Many of New Zealand's next generation of rowers head indoors on Sunday for the national championships.
In a busy programme at the Bethlehem College Events Centre, boys and girls from under-15 to mixed open teams will contest 29 events over 500m or 2000m.
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VOLLEYBALL
Competition is under way for all junior teams.
After three weeks of play in the premier girls, Avondale College A and Otahuhu College have four-from-four records with Manurewa one win back.
De La Salle and Otahuhu College are the early front-runners in the premier boys with perfect starts to their seasons.
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COMING UP
SATURDAY: Cricket, 1A 2-day championship (11am, home team first), WBHS v AGS, KBHS v Rosmini, MAGS v St Kentigern.
Mountain biking, team relays, Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua.
Tennis, (all 8.15am, home team first), senior A1 semifinals, boys, St Kentigern v MAGS, AGS v WBHS. Girls, Rangitoto v St Kentigern, EGGS v St Cuthbert's. Senior A1-2, boys, Kristin v King's, Rangitoto v AGS 2. Girls, Macleans v Baradene, Diocesan v MAGS.
SUNDAY: Rowing, NZ SS indoor championships, Bethlehem College, Tauranga from 8.30am.
